Exercise Counteracts a Week of Overeating

2 years, 6 months ago

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Posted on Nov 15, 2016, 6 a.m.

Study finds that exercise protects fat tissue from changes in inflammation levels and fat metabolism caused by a week of overeating.

With the upcoming holidays, families wil be preparing large scrumptious meals, of pumpkin and sweet potato pies, mashed potatoes, rich bread dressing, baked turkey and other delicious sides. While this sounds like a great menu, and the food is undoubtedly tasteful, many people are concerned with putting on excess weight, as a result of all of this overindulgence.

Overeating is a serious problem in America and is often associated with increased health problems like heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. These diseases fall under the realm of metabolic syndrome which involves cardiometabolic risk factors such as; high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, a large waist circumference, and high levels of blood glucose.

These metabolic risks can be canceled out however, if people participate in one very simple activity, exercise. Research shows that people who actively exercise and then consume an unhealthy diet, can improve their chances of preventing most metabolic syndromes. A lack of exercise contributes to many health problems and is definitively linked to heart disease and excessive weight gain.

One might think that occasional overeating does not present a health concern since it is not done on a regular basis. Research suggests that people who occasionally overeat might experience metabolic abnormalities and an increase in their adipose tissue. Just one week of eating too much can cause people to enter a prediabetes state.

Researchers are unsure as to what impact exercise has on the function and structure of the tissue, but some evidence shows that the damage overeating does to the metabolic system, can be protected by exercising.

A team of researchers from the University of Michigan, conducted a pilot study to find out what would happen to the fatty tissue of people who continued to exercise for one week. The study consisted of participants between the ages of 21– 26. The theory of the study was based on the hypothesis that one week of aerobic exercise, during one week of overeating would counteract the effect that overeating has on the metabolic system.

The team was counting on exercise to break down the lipids, prevent fatty tissue inflammation and preserve lipolysis response. Participants consumed 30% more calories during the week of the study, and they continued their regular exercise. They participated in 90 minutes of aerobic exercise, over the course of a 6 day period.

Exercise Appears to Counteract Harmful Effects of Overeating

Glucose testing was conducted before and after the study, of abdominal fat tissues. Researchers looked for obvious markers that would measure fatty tissue inflammation or circulating C- reactive protein. Individuals who do not exercise will show an increase in inflamed fat tissue. However, this time the tests were different. The study group showed no signs of inflamed fat tissues, in chemical breakdown or fat, and no change in glucose levels.

Researchers concluded that their early findings support the protective role exercise has on metabolic response.